England EXCLUSIVE: Sam Allardyce reveals Gareth Southgate was part of his World Cup plans

SAM ALLARDYCE admits he would not have embraced youth in the same way Gareth Southgate has.

And the former England boss says he would have tried to get his successor involved in the international set-up if he had not been dismissed for comments he made to an undercover reporter.

Allardyce still believes his behaviour did not warrant dismissal, and will watch this summer’s tournament from Cannes, entertaining well-heeled guests on behalf of a client, rather than travelling to the heart of the action in Russia.

“Of course I feel envy, no doubt about that,” Allardyce said. “I am not there but it will always be in the back of my mind, what might have been.

This is life in football now – nothing is predictable. You deal with it and move on. I live my life very well though.”

Allardyce masterminded the 1-0 win in Slovakia – thanks to Adam Lallana’s late goal – that saw England off to the perfect start in qualifying.

But only six of the players on the pitch at the end of that match have made it to Russia with Southgate’s fresh blood coursing through the team.

“I don’t know how different my squad would have been if I had been manager,” said Allardyce, speaking at the launch of the William Hill Arms Pub.

“But a lot of the players Gareth has picked on the basis of how they have succeeded over the last two years is something I would have done.

“The younger players who have done well in the Premier League have then stepped up again and proved they could do well with the chances they have got with England.

Even if I was still in charge, I would recognise that he is the one who knows better than anyone who would be worth a look.And a link between the senior side and the Under-21s is vital, in terms of having somebody who could advise who was ready to play in the seniors.

“I would certainly have had him alongside to help out.

“When I got the England job Gareth was already working with the under-21 squad with a sports psychologist, systems of play and development.

“Like myself, he would have moved that into the first-team boys as well.